Canadian PM Stephen Harper to visit India next week

TORONTO: Seeking to boost bilateral ties with India, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit the country next week during which he would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders.

This will be Harper's second official visit to India. During his November 3-9 visit, Harper will visit Agra, New Delhi, Chandigarh and Bangalore.

Harper will meet Singh, and other ministers and officials from the Indian government during his stay in India.

"Canada enjoys a strong working and personal relationship with India but we must further strengthen the links between our two countries," Harper said in a statement.

"India is a growing economy with enormous potential, and expanding our trade and investment links with India will create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity here in Canada."

He will also address the World Economic Forum on India, an independent international organisation committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders.

He will be accompanied by Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), and Tim Uppal, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), along with representatives of the business and cultural sectors.

Trade between India, one of the fastest growing economies, and Canada is increasing, the statement said.

The strength of the ties between the two countries is also reflected in the estimated 1 million Canadians of Indian origin and that more than 23,000 Indian students are currently studying in Canada, making India the second-largest source of foreign students to Canada.